BMW i8 First Drive
Introduction
The i8 is a low-slung, all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid sports car with a 129-hp electric motor powering the front wheels and a 220-hp, 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine driving the rear. Combined output is 357 hp, good for a blistering 0-60 mph run in 4.2 seconds, BMW claims. The i8 has an all-electric range of 14 miles before the gas engine kicks in, though the engine can be tapped as needed for maximum performance. Total range is about 310 miles. Charge time is said to be about 1.5 hours with 240-volt, and 3.5 hours with 120-volt. Like the i3, the i8 is also made of carbon fiber, and it weighs less than 3,500 pounds.